Gavaskar slams Team India's optional practice regimen

'The Indian team's work ethic is pretty abysmal'

The Indian cricket team's run of poor form has prompted former captain Sunil Gavaskar to come down heavily on the beleaguered players and question their "abysmal work ethic" following Sunday's defeat to arch-rivals Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup tournament in Dhaka.

India suffered a nerve-wracking one-wicket defeat, which virtually put them out of contention for a berth in the final of the five-nation tournament. They lost two matches and won just one, against Bangladesh.

"India's work ethic has been pretty abysmal. It has let the team down. They have not practiced well and there can't be something like optional practice. There was no excuse for anyone, apart from Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, to miss practice," Gavaskar told NDTV.

"This business of optional practice has to be thrown out of the window. This is not the case only in this tournament, but throughout.

"You are not here to be in your hotel rooms or to be out in the shops. You are here to represent India, something which the team management has not been saying for the past two-three years. That's been the disappointing aspect. This also explains why the Indian team hasn't won anything of note apart from the Champions Trophy," said Gavaskar.